P3D 2x2x2 and Twin XA-2's

[Michael Watters <mwatters@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric Goldstein <egoldste@xxxxxx> mentions:

>Maybe with the recent discussion of 2x2x2, this is a good time to
>mention Joel Alpers XA-2 twinning service. A few folks in Stereo New

For anyone considering a twin XA-2 camera rig...  You're really best off building the
thing yourself.  It's not that hard really.   I started building XA-2 rigs about 5 years
ago and sold them for a few years.  (Joel just copied my approach).  


The entire conversion requires 4 soldering points and the removal of one spring.
Pretty simple stuff.   


To address Eric's questions/comments about the rigs themselves:
   The size of the XA series cameras allows you to build them with an interoccular
of somewhere around 4-5".   About double "normal", which gives the shots a little more
3D "punch" but it's not obviously hyper or objectionable IMHO.
   XA-2's have 35mm 4 element lenses that are VERY good.  The optics put any of
the 50's stereo cameras to shame.
   The resulting rig is only slightly larger than a Realist and (I seem to remember)
was actually lighter (by just a bit).
   I was using bars with backs on them.  The PRIMARY advantage of this was that the
bar's back provided a handy attachment point for a neck strap.  I very much prefer
being able to sling the camera around my neck.  This also means you don't have to
attach anything to the cameras themselves which removes stress off them.  The back
also protects the cameras somewhat in the event of accident.

Unless Joel has found some way to link the camera's exposure systems, they're
firing independantly same as mine always did.  XA-2's had a very good track record
of syncing their exposures well, even without trying to go hardcore and link their 

exposure systems.  That was one of the big reasons I went with XA-2's.  I'd tried
(in conjunction with my Father-in-Law) an XA based rig, but that pair didn't sync their
exposures decently.   (I've heard from others that their XA based rigs were OK though).

Anyway, anyone interested in XA-2 based systems...  Email me and I'll give you the
complete run-down on how the twinning is done.  Once you've got the cameras, you
can have them up and running in just a single afternoon.  The twinning itself is pretty 

easy.  I always spent more time on the bars than the cameras anyway.

mike
watters


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